This past summer, three Georgia State University College of Law students were named 2024 Justice John Paul Stevens Public Interest Fellows. Jiovanny Dominguez (J.D. ’25), Aaliyah Knight (J.D. ’26) and Aimee Lyons (J.D. ’25) are all members of the 2024 Stevens Fellows cohort, consisting of 157 law students nationwide who work in public interest law.
Dominguez, now in his third year of law school, has interned with the Fulton County Public Defender's Office for two summers in a row and hopes to become a public defender after graduation. For him, the work isn’t just a way to pass time between semesters, but a training ground for his future.
“Being a John Paul Stevens fellow means committing not just to a profession but to a purpose,” he said. “It is a recognition of my dedication to serving those whose voices often go unheard and a promise to fight for justice and equality. This opportunity is a stepping stone on my path to becoming a public defender, equipping me with the resources, mentorship, and community support I need to advocate fiercely for those in need and drive meaningful change in our legal system,” explained Dominguez.
Each fellow received a stipend from the Stevens Foundation to support them financially while they worked an unpaid public interest law internship this summer.
“These students chose to work in unpaid positions without any promise of support, so it is great to be able to recognize their hard work and provide them with financial resources for the summer,” said Alexandra Eichenbaum, deputy director for the Center for Access to Justice at Georgia State Law. “Beyond the award, the fellowship provides a network students can rely on beyond law school.”
The Stevens Foundation partners with law schools across the country to operate and fund the Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship program. The Stevens Fellowship pays homage to the late Justice Stevens and reflects his abiding belief that a dynamic and effective justice system depends on a deep bench of trained and committed lawyers doing public interest work. Justice Stevens’ life and work reflect a commitment to civil rights, disability rights and government accountability.